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In the world of football, the Turkish Football Federation postponed the matches in all the football leagues in the country after a club President punched a referee in the face. Scott McTominay spoke about how Manchester United players are “firmly behind” the manager Erik Ten Hag despite the inconsistent first half of the season for the club.
Moving to hockey, the Indian men’s junior hockey team managed to defeat the Netherlands by 4-3 in a thrilling comeback to reach the semi-final of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2023. Read below to learn details about these top stories and other happenings in the sporting world in the last 24 hours.
Football
Turkish league football matches postponed indefinitely after club President punches referee
After the MKE Ankaragucu President Faruk Koca punched the referee Halil Umut Meler in the face, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) Chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi announced that the matches in all the football leagues in Turkey have been postponed indefinitely. The shocking incident involving the referee and the MKE Ankaragucu President happened after his team conceded a late equaliser to Caykur Rizespor for a 1-1 draw at the Eryaman Stadium in the Turkish Super Lig, leading to The Association of Active Football Referees and Observers of Turkey making a call to all the all referees to not take the pitch until the current circumstances change.
Cristiano Ronaldo set to renew rivalry with Lionel Messi in pre-season friendly in Saudi Arabia
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to renew his long-standing rivalry against Lionel Messi for the first time in years when Al-Nassr takes on Inter Miami in a pre-season friendly in Saudi Arabia. These two teams will be competing in Saudi Arabia during the Riyadh Season Cup on February 1, at the Kingdom Arena, and just two days earlier, Inter Miami will play against Al-Hilal at the same venue too.
Scott McTominay asserts Manchester United players “firmly behind” manager Erik ten Hag
Scott McTominay, the Scottish and Manchester United midfielder, asserted to the press that he and his teammates are “firmly behind” the manager Erik ten Hag, who is constantly under fire from all sides for his team’s inconsistent performances in the first half of the ongoing season. The 27-year-old was quoted as saying, “It is not just a case of like (with) some of the other managers where it has been a little bit toxic at times - the boys are firmly behind the manager. We've got amazing coaching staff. We just want to do well for the football club and it's as simple as that.”
Chelsea to consider offers to sell Conor Gallagher in January: Reports
Chelsea are reportedly prepared to consider offers to sell Conor Gallagher, the English midfielder, during the January transfer window to raise funds for the manager Mauricio Pochettino to make changes in the squad. As per the report from The Daily Mail, the Chelsea manager is interested in bringing either Ivan Toney, the English striker from Brentford, or the Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen from Napoli, to add a focal point in the attacking side of the pitch for the club.
Some major results in football are as under:
La Liga 2023-24
Granada 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Celta Vigo
Serie A 2023-24
Empoli 1-1 Lecce
Cagliari 2-1 Sassuolo
Hockey
Uttam Sin gh -led India men’s junior team reach semifinals after 4-3 win over the Netherlands
The Uttam Singh-led men’s junior hockey team beat the mighty Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2023 in Malaysia to book a spot in the semifinals. They will now take on Germany on Thursday, December 14, 2023.
Tennis
Rafael Nadal - Carlos Alcaraz to play exhibition match in Las Vegas in March 2024
Former World No. 1 and 22-time Grand Slam champion will take on compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in an exhibition match, dubbed as ‘The Netflix Slam’ in Las Vegas on March 3, 2024. The broadcaster and organisers of the match, Netflix on Monday revealed the details, adding that it will be played at the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort.
Boxing
I am still hungry to do something: Mary Kom on representing India
Olympic medallist Mary Kom opened up on her zeal to represent the country at the highest level. Speaking on the sidelines of the Khelo India Para Games, MC Mary Kom said, “If I say from my heart, I am still hungry to do something. I still want to compete and represent the country. But I am not being able to compete from this year because of age limit.” She further added that she might go to pro boxing, but is not sure yet.
Chess
D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi to lead India at the Chennai Grand Masters Championships 2023
D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi will lead the Indian challenge at the Chennai Grand Masters Championships 2023, set to be played from 15 to 21 December in Chennai. The tournament will feature a total of five international Grandmasters and three Indian GMs. R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi, Ding Liren, Parham Maghsoodloo (Iran), P Harikrishna, Levon Aronian (USA), Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine), Alexander Predke (Serbia), Sjugirov Sanan (Hungary) are few of the other names who will feature at the event.
